Sir: Yemen is under fire now. The Saudis have followed the footsteps of their master in forming a coalition to bomb a country. The master is not only backing but is also providing tactical support. The duplicity of the western approach can be seen in almost every intervention they make in the region. During the last four decades, the Middle East has been the centre of various interventions by the US, almost every time failing to achieve the stated objectives, and a few mass movements that emerge through social, political and ideological campaigns. Such movements can fail, but they have certainly the greater chances of success. In Yemen the government is confronting the Houthis who are shown to have the backing of Iran. Houthis being Shias give the west another opportunity to fan the Shia-Sunni hatred. What is being forgotten is that the Houthis belong to the Zaidi sect of Shiism. The Zaidi are considered closer to Sunnis than any other Shia sect. Houthis in Yemen have had the support of a large section of the Sunni population as well, some of whom are switching positions following the Saudi intervention. Ideally, the Saudis should have played a role in bringing peace through reconciliation between different sections of society. If immediate corrective steps are not taken, it will end up in another bloody civil war. The most important factor that threatens peace in the Muslim world is the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Saudis have been made to believe by their western masters that Iran is much more dangerous than Israel. Iran today has much larger support in the Muslim world than Saudi Arabia’s rulers. The Muslim world views the US as its top enemy and anyone siding with it is loathed. Iran’s popularity will rise further if it can enter into an understanding with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, especially Qatar and UAE. If it can convince the Arabs that western powers cannot harm them if they act in unison, it will help the cause of peace in a big way. Indian Muslims need to stress on both Saudi Arabia and Iran the need to bury their differences. India being a Sunni majority country, there have always been attempts to fan the Sunni-Shia divide. This has to be stopped at all costs. Using sectarianism for political ends is a sin, which cannot be forgiven. DR JAVED JAMIL Via Email